Of course, it is impossible to completely escape a city’s feelings and expectations — especially when the club’s all-time leading scorer, Alan Shearer, texts the club captain, Bruno Guimaraes, on the eve of the game. But his message was not one spewing emotion, but a clinical instruction: “Bring that trophy back.”

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe reflected on his teams celebrations after ending their 70-year-long drought without a major domestic trophy.

It was at that moment I, for the first time, believed Eddie Howe's men were going to end their lengthy trophy drought. In truth, there had been little reason to be nervous - either side of Pope's save.